Whither the Texas Triffid Ranch?

The Texas Triffid Ranch, as with most horticultural businesses, is a family affair.  Right now, that family is more Addams than Corleone or Manson, and we like to keep it that way.  The cast of characters includes: 

Paul

Paul Riddell was, for thirteen years, a writer and essayist: thankfully for everyone involved, he got better.  A short-lived job in Tallahassee, Florida, right after he quit writing in 2002, gave him exposure to the extensive carnivorous plant population in the Florida Panhandle, and he never looked back.  Right now, he concentrates on building the Triffid Ranch and researching new developments and innovations in horticulture and urban farming.  A proud member of both the International Carnivorous Plant Society and the Dallas Organic Garden Club, Paul can also be found at gardening and horticulture events in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, both sharing and receiving new information.

The Czarina

Nicknamed after the character in Fritz Leiber's chess ghost story "Midnight By The Morphy Watch, " Caroline Crawford is the perfect business and marriage partner.  Reknowned for her jewelry through Tawanda Jewelry, Caroline is usually seen at art fairs and jewelry shows throughout the Metroplex and elsewhere.

The Cats

Cats and nurseries seem to go together like pizza and Dr. Pepper, and the Triffid Ranch has two. Tramplemaine, the older of the two, has been with the Czarina for ten years, while Leiber  joined the family in 2002.  While they don't necessarily earn their keep by catching pests, they're included for one very important reason:  neither has any interest whatsoever in eating houseplants.  If we could convince them to quit sleeping on our heads at night and then fighting over priority, though, we might be able to get some sleep ourselves.

The World's Meanest Box Turtle

Stella, the Triffid Ranch mascot, was originally rescued in 1999 as she attempted to cross one of Dallas's busiest intersections in the middle of morning rush hour.  Quickly given the nicknames "Battleturtle" and "The World's Meanest Box Turtle" for her propensity to go after humans, she has an unrequited love for the cat Leiber, and pursues him at every available opportunity.  Unfortunately, he only has eyes for Tramplemaine and Harold, so this is another love that will never be.

harold

The area around the Triffid Ranch has quite a bit of urban wildlife, including Carolina anoles, Mediterranean geckos, three types of owl (screech, barn, and great horned), herons (great blue and night herons), grey and red foxes, red-tailed hawks, raccoons, and the occasional and very stealthy coyote.  This menagerie also includes the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) , and the Triffid Ranch has an occasional visitor from the genus in Harold, named after the nephew of Canada's greatest superhero.  Harold probably won't be around for long (opossums generally only live two to three years in the wild, if they aren't picked off by owls and other predators), but he's much less destructive than raccoons or foxes, so as long as he doesn't cause trouble, he's a welcome visitor.